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CATCH ME IF YOU CAN . . . Action during the first day of the Dairbord Rugby Festival at Prince Edward yesterday as the continent’s biggest schools rugby festival got underway

Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
THE real deal is on today when big business gets underway with the heavyweights of schools rugby clashing at the Dairibord Schools Rugby Festival at Prince Edward.

With four top quality games billed from lunch, the tone of the festival is expected to change today with the clash of the traditional schools rugby giants on the Jubilee Field, starting with the game between St George’s College against Midlands Christian College.

Like yesterday, the games are set to get underway at 8am across all the five fields, but it is from 12.40pm that things could explode at the main Jubilee Field where Eaglesvale entertain St John’s College (1:50pm).

Peterhouse take on hosts Prince Edward (3pm) before the final game between Churchill Bulldogs and Falcon College at 4:10pm at Jubilee.

Eaglesvale coach Cyprian “Supa” Mandenge, whose side has been on the rise over the last three years, feels they could make a big impression at the week-long jamboree.

Last year Eaglesvale beat Churchill 17-10 with all three of their tries coming from counter attacks.

However, 11 of their players graduated from High School with Mandenge saying they were at a developmental stage.

“We are always excited about playing the so-called big boys because it gives us the exposure we have always wanted and at times we are overlooked as some call us a small team,” said Mandenge.

“Yes, we are a small school in terms of numbers but we also have the talent and skill to match any other school and this is good for the boys because it’s not always about winning.

“There isn’t a lot of pressure on us, pressure comes from the coaches and all I want from my boys is to see them enjoy, to play to the set game structure, defend and attack according to how we trained.

“Eleven of the players we had last year are no longer part of the side and so we are almost a developing side, we know it is going to be tough against St John’s but we have to give our all.

“We have a name (Eaglesvale) to protect and there is a lot of pride to play for.”

MCC have not been on tour prior to the festival and they will only get to play as a team this afternoon for the first time this year.

Coach Marvin Chirume says all he is interested in is his boys is maintaining structure.

“If the boys come out and show they are able to maintain structure, and stick to the game plan, then I will be very very happy because it’s only our first game.

“Once we are past this first knock I am sure we will know the kind of team we have,” he said.

It’s very different for the Tigers who are under pressure to perform having won all their three games at the same event last year.

Coach Sean de Souza knows a lot is expected of them when they take on Peterhouse Kings in the penultimate game of the day.

“That we won three out of three last year reflects on the high level of quality of players we have at PE and we exhibited a good standard of play but we must not forget that those wins were not a walk in the park, we had to sweat for them.

“We have a fairly reasonable side that has quite a number of new blood coming through from last year’s second team and they are still trying to settle.

“It’s good that we managed to have two tours, one to South Africa and the other to Namibia, but Tuesday (today) will determine how far we are,” said de Souza.

Former Zimbabwe Under-20 coach Geoffrey Mdahake’s Churchill will bring the curtain down today against former Sables coach Brandon Dawson’s Falcon College in the final game of the day.